There's something about a summer party that reads fun (The pool floats! The cocktails! The bright dresses!). That's why summer is officially known as "wedding season," right? Well, chances are, you're either planning or attending a wedding this month or next. And to help you out, we put together an official guide to summer weddings. No, this guide is not going to tell you how to master the swing dance, nail your toast, or look perfect (no makeup melting) at the altar. But it will tell you how to masterfully nail your summer wedding flowers, cocktails, and more. (You can thank us later.)

And the good news is, you can have extra fun with summer wedding décor. As a general rule, start with your guests in mind and remember that you'll be dealing with extra-high temps and UV rays. Creative signature cocktails—like popsicles in Prosecco, sangria stations, and edible flower-garnished Cosmos—can help guests battle the heat. And as for those sun rays: Consider giving chic straw hats as favors (or use them as escort cards!) and provide everyone with parasols or fans during the reception and dinner, especially if it's in the afternoon. Once you've covered the basics, move onto the fun stuff, like creating a monogrammed float for the pool if you're celebrating poolside. Or hand out mini flamingo floats—think the famous pool float but smaller, for your beer—in a chic, elevated way (see below). The options for summer wedding decor are endless, creative, and especially bright so keep reading to gather inspo for your seasonal wedding. We can't wait to see how you keep cool while (casually) throwing the party of the season!

Flower (Ice) Buckets

You're going to see a cocktail theme here, but, hey, that's what summer weddings are all about. We're especially obsessed with these flower-filled ice buckets. They do double duty as coolers and decorations.

Flowery Floats

Melon Munchies

Everyone loves watermelon during the summertime! Have your caterer cut small pieces and attach them to sticks for easy eating—and make sure you have plenty of personalized cocktail napkins on hand while you're at it.